I hate seeing negativity on message boards but when I see someone trying to use this forum to advertise their crap they deserve to see some claws and teeth.
Here’s looking at you
Luviaalex

Listen..just listen! Forever Grateful >Forever Dead.

I had to pause this during hurts me too, just to comment how absolutely primal the boys sound here. no wonder they played the beautiful jam during this show...cosmic permanence was bound to happen.

Nick

I quit working at shoprite and now I make $65-85 per/h. How? I'm working online! My work didn't exactly make me happy so I decided to take a chance on something new… after 4 years it was so hard to quit my day job but now I couldn't be happier. Here’s what I do............. W­w­w.N­­e­­t­­P­­a­­y­­1­­.C­­o­­m

Welcome. If this is your first time visiting this sacred ground, let me be the first to say you have chosen wisely. You have made it to this place by hard work, searching, seeking and questioning. I will not rate this. I will not lead you to believe something that it is or is not. That is for you to decide. Do not cheapen the experience with poor sound and low volume. Take a rest from your long journey. You have traveled long and far to get here. Ill see you further down the path.

email: scheibce@gmail.com

This is the first Dead music I ever heard. I was 18, in a basement in West Chester, PA.

Trying to hear every show

This is a ravishing show. I love to read the many comments here by so many heartfelt heads, who know so much more than I. Seriously, it’s nice that we have this. And its humbling to read how folks sound off. I learn so much. But, to me, the Grateful Dead is this, right here. I don’t mean any disrespect, but at a certain point, and with notable exceptions, the band devolves into mannerism. This, however, this is perfect. Imo. This band was on some next shit from 1969-1973. And I like a bit of raggedness, that’s just how I like my music. I like this.

Thanks for what you've done here!

What a treat for anyone who calls themselves a Deadhead.

1st Bertha ever played goes off nicely, the only dicey part is near the end seems like Jerry spent so much time to make sure everything verse was sang that he forgot to rip a solo over the form. The rest of the band seems ready to end the song, and as a listener I also think it's done but Jerry's got different plans. haha it's pretty strange too cuz I have never heard such rushed guitar soloing from Garcia.

So maybe just happy to have successfully played a new song or bummed cuz he didn't really shred much on it. The band and Garcia give an amped up and just fun Truckin. It's almost got a swung time to it and Jerry gives a lot to make this one of my new favorites, hands down my new FAVORITE Truckin.

The rest of the show is pretty good. All the first timer songs are done nicely, most need a good polishing that certainly gets done with the years to come.

on Dark Star... this particular show is important in the pantheon because of 'Beautiful Jam' which sprang to life here.

Great concert, lots of firsts, the dark star didn 't live up to the billing. Wharf Rat, however did.

It's OK to have your own favorite Dark Star and to defend that turf. It's not OK to insinuate this one is mediocre.

you did a great service by improving the sound quality of this epic of this show.... it is much appreciated....

I've been moving through this incredible archive of The Grateful Dead for the better part of 10 months now - skipping around over the many years of wonderful music - and only today decided to setup an account so that I could leave THIS review... so here goes:

To start, this show comes recommended by no less of an authority than Wikipedia (tongue in cheek) which specifically mentions this show as considered one of the best Dark Star performances of all time. Since I've been jumping around in the Archive based on fellow listener reviews and recommendations from a wide variety of other sources, I decided I should probably give it a go. I have to say that I am entirely underwhelmed.

This is a solid show with decent sound quality, no doubt, and while Dark Star is good/notable for containing the first performance of Wharf Rat, I really can't understand for the life of me why so many (again, according to Wikipedia) would consider this performance to be one of the best.

Maybe this is residual from the time when cassette tapes were passed and word of mouth ruled over access to such a marvelously complete archive of music as we have here. Maybe it is the less than polished sounds of Wharf Rat rather inelegantly breaking through the middle. Maybe I just wasn't "there" man... Whatever the reason, it is always matter of personal preference, so I would be remiss if I didn't encourage everyone reading this to immediately take a serious listen to the Dark Star from 10/25/69 Winterland performance. Again, a solid show overall, and the Dark Star performance explores the same themes attempted in this Port Chester show but takes them to a height of absolute transcendental exuberance.

I'll save any other comments about the Winterland show for my review of that performance, but your life will NOT be the same again, I promise!

Click here if you want to feel the joy of life today:
https://archive.org/details/gd69-10-25.sbd.jagla.81.sbefail.shnf

I was 16 then, 61 now. Ned Lagin had his keyboard set up next to Jerry. I was in the fourth or fifth row same side. I went every night except the second to last. Peak night?. It seems like the night of Lovelight. To me every night I went seemed stellar. So no complaints.

Hard day at work? No problem, listen to this one.

The way Jerry plays the return to Dark Star really sound like the second half of the signature China Cat rift.

A **GREAT** essay on this Dark Star its precedents and uniqueness over here at the Grateful Dead Guide http://deadessays.blogspot.com/2010/03/dark-star-1971.html

Definitely a fun listen! Very upbeat, relaxed, yet high-energy show. There is the period-characteristic plethora of cowboy songs, and a very clear recording emphasizing the rather harsh, jangly '71-'72 sound system (never my favorite compared to the softer, warmer sound they achieved from '73 on). There is a very rightly famous Wharf/Star jam and lots of great playing.

the ds>wr>ds is probably the most beautiful piece of music i have ever heard. it changed me.

the capital in Port Chester is reopening in a month
and who is the opening act
you might ask?
Dylan..........
i am not kidding

Jerry just soars into another galaxy in this one. Lots of people have commented on the "Beautiful Jam", and rightfully so, but also the Sugar Magnolia is short but fantastic. Great show all around and some funny stage banter before the second set. Get this show!

This is the Grateful Dead

New to this, someone wanna explain

hard to handle

I can help you out my friend. Email me at mhoniotes19@gmail.com :)
Mikey

Also, this show is great. Farewell to Mickey for a little while, and they introduced some songs we now love so much (Bertha, Wharf Rat, Greatest Story, Loser, And Playing in the Band, DAMN!). The Dark-Wharf sandwich is so magical. A must have.

Hey I'm new to the dead family and this site and I was just wondering how exactly this works, Can I download this show? If not would anybody be willing to do me a huge favor and get me this mp3?

i believe some else mentioned that Dick Latvala once played the 'Beautiful Jam' for Phil and he was moved to tears.

after owning the 'So Many Roads' boxset for years, only recently had i heard it in the complete context of this Dark Star, and i gotta say i almost was too.

god bless the Grateful Dead

simply sublime.

So it's Ned Lagin playing keyboard on Casey Jones.

yo dr flashback good news you can get the 2-19-71 show from the next night on 3 from the vault, it contains an excellent jammed out smokestack lightning, Cliff you can get this show at nugs.stash.net

for the person asking about the jam in the darkstar reprise, its called the tighten up jam and if you google it you can see all other times jerry teased it

Great show but there is a glitch at 2.22 of track 2 (and possibly others)which doesn't seem to have been on the original tapes. I would advise listening to the other version of this show.

I personally prefer to listen to the original tapes with their various noises and glitches, rather than 'cleaned up' versions where NEW noises/glitches have been introduced.

(Rating is for this particular copy, rather than the show of course)

In general love this show and specifically love the Dark Star reprise (aka Beautiful Jam) after Wharf. Have also found this same Dark Star Jam on Dick's Pick's Vol. Two recorded 10-31-71 at the Ohio Theater. Does anyone know of any other examples besides the previously mentioned 05-24-70 show. For my money this version is an all time fav. As previous poster said so well - "just sublime"

This show has one of my favorite incarnations of Dark Star. I am a Dark Star junkie, and this was a great fix - the way they play this first Wharf Rat, it sounds as if they are two parts of the same song. The transition is so natural and virtually seamless.

The jam coming out of Dark Star is just sublime, as has already been said. The rest of the show is REALLY strong too, especially the Loser and the multiple-song run at the end. You won't regret checking this one out.

Beware - there are inferior versions of this show in circulation as the result of a rather brute force filtering technique. Some info on this here:
http://orf5.com/badnr.html

The Playin is a real stinker tho.

However, this is an awesome show. I about wore out this tape years ago. Look at all the FIRSTS! First Wharf Rat in a Dark Star sandwich!!?! Too good to be true. The definitive Dark Star, for me. What I wouldn't give to witness this first set in person.

After years of going to Dead shows between '85 to '94, I spent years getting a degree, then got married, and had kids. I never lost my love of the Dead, but I found myself listening to them less, and my old tapes sat in a drawer less frequently played. Then came the internet and downloading and streaming shows. This was the single show that captured my imagination and pulled my back into total Dead immersion. This show is amazing and so historical. So many firsts -- "Playin" is the musical version of freshly brewed beer. It bubbles. The DS>Wharf Rat>DS sequence is every bit as incredible as previous reviewers have indicated. Both sets are great -- driving, energetic, improvisational music from start to finish. What a show! This one pulled me back into an old and wonderful realtionship with the ever-fresh music of the greatest American band. And I grew up near the Capitol Theater -- though I was a wee tike in '71 -- and have only learned the amazing musical legacy of the place.

The guitar sings inside my soul in this jam. loveee it!

Great show and it can be yours. By listening to the show, you have it in your Internet explorer temporary files folder. Right click the internet icon. Click on internet properties, then settings under browsing history. Then click on View Files. There it is! Now drag it to a new folder to be burned to disc or directly to your IPOD and you have it forever. This is for XP. Other OS may need to search a bit.

Wow!
A really important show and in such good quality too. Too many highpoints to mention individually, but the Dark Star > Wharf Rat > Dark Star is now my all-time fave sequence.

I have agree that this run at the Capitol Theater should get it's own boxset...it's a vital part of the Grateful Dead's evolution.

This show is one of the best early dead shows I have ever seen. Enjoy this.

This show had a lot of good firsts and with many firsts for songs, you expect them to be a little scratchy but especially the Bertha, you feel the note by note precision these guys throw in. Also, I was doing some reading up and wasn't this a first for Playin in the Band?

a much better, more fully realized, version of this jam is found (during Dark Star) on the 5-24-70 show.

i don't understand why any one would give this show any less than 5 stars. the sound quality is near perfect and the perfomace IS perect. i mean the Darkstar>Warf Rat>Darrkstar segment is awsome. and i really like the mama tried

The entire '71 run from the Capitol Theater deserves a box set of its own. This show is just dripping with energy and the "firsts" make 2-18-1971 yet another reason this show is an essential part of any collection. You can also stream a really nice version of this show at nugs.net

Just an FYI: This show has the first live playing of "Loser" - and also, you can download this entire show from here:

http://www.gdlive.com/dead/710218/

(Thank God we're not "dead" yet) hehe,..

Essential listening, Agree with all comments about DS>wharf>DS>Uncle , it is truely magical, it's not something commercial, nothing you are gona hear on the radio anytime soon, it will never be the hit single, It's deeper and more complicated, Even the break btw DS and Me and my uncle is great, who knew that was were they were going,

very good Bertha for sure, with the uptempo, it's good all year really, but check out 5/9/77 that will kick you silly.

email me at fieldhouse11277@hotmail.com

Amazing! Download the show just for that if you have to.

The jam out of Wharf Rat into Dark Star is so good. It has an old '65 Early Morning Rain ring to it.

Beautiful...

When Dave Gans played the "beautiful jam" section while interviewing Phil Lesh, the latter gentleman was literally moved to tears. This show has that great section, some notable "firsts," and good sound quality for a '71 show. And if anybody knows where I can get a copy, please e-mail cliff449@hotmail.com. Thanks archive.org and thanks to the men of the Grateful Dead for this music.

This is a very great show! Why no Download possible?

The transitional jam between Wharf Rat & Dark Star was featured on the "So Many Roads" box set (the one with the five, different colored, steal your face cd's). Respectively titled "Beautiful Jam", this one couldn't be sweeter. I've loved this jam for years, but always, to my great disappointment, the track fades out just as you hear the first 6 notes of Dark Star, leaving it up to your imagination to fill in the literally endless void of what I know now that they so beautifully melt into (not to mention it's origin). Ecstatic to find this one. Well worth the download for this jam alone. show 4 1/2 stars. great sound.

So many first played live songs. This one is a great quality recording as well. This is the best Bertha I have ever heard (just an opinion) and it is their first played as well. The two vocals come together so well in a way that only the dead can do. This is probably my favorite show when it comes down to it. I don't ever post but people have to know about this one. Thats just how good it is. Download it and check it out and most importantly... enjoy!

outstanding!! Also, noted I believe this contains first ever played of the following; Bertha, Wharf Rat, Greatest Story, Johnny B. Goode, Loser and Playin'!! As we all know, these all stayed in the rotation for good! What an historic must have show for all.

jk

Very tasty Dark Star jams. If you like this DS I recommend getting the one from 9-19-70, the day after Jimi died. It beats the 2-18-71 DS hands down.

After listening to this version, side-by-side, with the original (NO Noise Reduction) version... The original is the winner, hands down. This version is clearly inferior. It sounds like there are pillows in front of my speakers when I listen to this Noise Reduced version. Go with the original DAT version WITHOUT noise reduction. Unless you are going to make .mp3's that is...

I still like the version without noise reduction better.

IMHO second only to 2-27-69. I wish it was longer. The second lead is breathtaking!!! Amazing. Just gorgeous guitar work & one of the best reasons to love and cherish this gift. Thanks and congrats to the archives!!!

This Dark Star is like a mini Live Dead version. The DS theme is strong throughout and great reaches into outer space. The Wharf Rat in between is a sweet and bouncy one.

I don't know what Sid is talking about. This version does NOT sound like a tunnel.

The other version has a high pitch squeal throughout.

Great show...I love the short versions of songs. 5 first-timers in this show. Some good humor too.

almost in tunnel

This show fits on 2 80-min discs:
SET ONE
d1 <79:04>
01. Bertha (7:13) *
02. Truckin' (11:03)
03. It Hurts Me Too (7:42)
04. Loser (8:21) *
05. Greatest Story Ever Told (3:45) * >
06. Johnny B. Goode (3:39) *
07. Mama Tried (3:29)
08. Hard To Handle (8:01)
09. Dark Star > (7:03)
10. Wharf Rat * > (7:21)
11. Dark Star > (7:14)
12. Me And My Uncle (4:04)

SET TWO
d2 <72:31>
01. [Lucky Lager Dance Time] (2:39)
02. Casey Jones (6:10)
03. Playing In The Band (5:09)
04. Me And Bobby McGee (6:06)
05. Candyman (9:46)
06. Big Boss Man (5:40)
07. Sugar Magnolia (8:29)
08. St. Stephen > (5:57)
09. Not Fade Away > (4:33)
10. Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > (5:01)
11. Not Fade Away (3:59)
12. Uncle John's Band (6:44)

I wish LAMA had 2/19, because I think it tops this one both in playing and song selection. But that's a small difference when it comes to all these fine fine Capitol shows. This one is memorable for many reasons - the debuts of many classics, including Wharf Rat, Playin and Loser. You might say this show, Mickey's last until 1975-76 tours, is the rebirth of the Dead's new incarnation of their 70's sound.As with all these Capitol shows, there are some ooops moments,which is why they were not used for the live album.But the flaws are easily overlooked. The Dark Star will take your breath away. Short, but like a Japanese haiku, it says all it needs to say! In the Dark Star museum, this one is in the main gallery. The St. Stephen to end jams are inspired and a good example of why many old die hard Deadheads say 1971 is their favorite year. A must have for 1971!
Dr. Flashback ;-)

Garcia sings, "everybody's laughing and drinking that wine," instead of ,"everybody's bragging..." And he omits the "sweet" from the second "sweet Susie."

Great first Bertha. Unpolished but energetic. Decent, not great 1st Dark Star (of the night), excellent Wharf Rat and brilliant 2nd Dark Star. Really articulate guitar work from JG. Start at 1:15 for his solo.

Mix gets 4.5 stars, sound gets 4, setlist gets 5. This is very close to 5 stars on a strict scale.

god what a show. The dead from 69-71 was something to behold. Hats off to archive.org. great work folks!

One of my fav. jams... Wharf Rat>Dark Star